Men's Track & Field

Gaudette Named All-American in Cross Country

Nov 24, 2003

Nov. 24, 2003

Waterloo, IA -
Junior Jeff Gaudette (Biddeford, ME) competed today at the NCAA National Cross Country meet in Waterloo, Iowa. The 10,000 meter (6.2 mile) competition was hosted by the University of Northern Iowa, and Gaudette qualified by placing fourth overall at the Northeast Regional meet. Although the team did not advance with him, Gaudette represented Brown well, placing 38th of 255 runners, earning All-American status.

Crossing the line in 30:14.5, Gaudette improved upon an already decorated season. He was the 5th finisher at the Heptagonal Championship, but stepped up to be the second Ivy finisher in this race, less than two seconds behind Heps champion Steve Sundell of Columbia; he easily bested Princeton's Tristan Colangelo (166th) and Yale's Lucas Meyer (103rd) who took third and fourth at Heps, respectively. In addition, Gaudette overtook Providence College's Dylan Wykes (49th), who finished one spot ahead of him at Regionals.

Coach John Gregorek's strategy was to have Gaudette be conservative early on and move up steadily throughout the race. Gaudette was in approximately 110th place through the first mile; he was in 100th at the two mile marker. Three and a half miles into the competition, Gaudette had begun to make his move and had advanced to 70th, and by the fourth mile was just around 40th. The plan set out by Gregorek and Gaudette allowed him to finish strongly, kicking down men in the final 2000 meters.

Gaudette becomes the first Brown All-American Cross Country runner since Chris Schille '88.

This marks the end of competition for the 2003 season for the Brown Men's Cross Country, the first ever Heptagonal Champion team. Indoor track will kick-off December 6 as the Bears race at home in the Alden Invitational.